As the 2020 s are coming to a close, we’re looking forward to what’s next. One thing is clear– it’s going to be exciting and fun! The Women’s NCAA championship game in 2022 will see another great match-up between North Carolina State University of Virginia Tech. This year had two undefeated teams…which one will win?
The “women’s ncaa basketball tournament schedule 2022” is the upcoming women’s NCAA championship game. The game will take place in 2022 and will be held at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
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ESPN.com’s Mechelle Voepel
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- Mechelle Voepel is an espnW reporter that covers the WNBA, women’s college basketball, and other college sports. Voepel has been with ESPN since 1996 and has covered women’s basketball since 1984.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Before games, Brea Beal does not listen to music. She doesn’t need the boost and prefers to maintain an even keel. Zia Cooke is well-known for her sharp wit. Destanni Henderson, on the other hand, has honed her skills as the on-court commander, the one who keeps everything in order.
They are the starting guards for the women’s basketball team at South Carolina. And if the Gamecocks are to win their second NCAA title, Aliyah Boston, the consensus national player of the year, won’t be the only one leading them there. In Sunday’s national championship game versus UConn, South Carolina’s backcourt will be equally as important (8 p.m. ET, ESPN).
All three guards had great hopes when they came in Columbia. Henderson, a senior, was ranked as the No. 6 overall prospect by ESPN HoopGurlz in 2018. Juniors Cooke and Beal were ranked No. 4 and No. 11 in South Carolina’s 2019 recruiting class, respectively.
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley stated, “They have three distinct personalities that simply match.” “Because they’ve spent so much time together, they behave as if they’re playing in shorthand. It’s not necessary for you to say much. They can give each other glances and understand what each other is saying out on the floor.”
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Beal said of the guards’ connection, “The most important thing, I believe, is to be able to maintain a sense of balance while having fun, laughing, and joking. Getting to know someone, like heart-to-heart, is a game-changer. So it’s like a sister bond on the court; you simply trust one another.”
Even though the three don’t hang together all the time off the floor, Staley believes this to be true.
“I believe they have various cliques,” Staley said, “but the connection that they’ve been able to establish on the court has blossomed fairly beautifully.” Staley is attempting to add to his 2017 NCAA victory. “They also have mutual appreciation for what they do and how important they are to our group.”
Staley went to three Final Fours as a point guard at Virginia in the 1990s, when she also played in a three-guard backcourt with current Rhode Island coach Tammi Reiss and Dena Evans. As a coach, Staley has a specific connection with her point guards, which may entail a lot of criticism.
“As a shooting guard or a post player, I’ve always approached the game differently,” Staley said. “I’ve always had the ability to see the larger picture and have taken it with me throughout my life. It makes no difference whether it’s basketball or life. As a point guard, I’m used to seeing everything. We’ve been taught to look at the larger picture.”
Check your bracket now that the women’s NCAA tournament national championship game has been decided. Challenge yourself to a Tournament
“I’ve been able to figure out what they’re excellent at and just be the point guard who puts them in the greatest position to be their best selves,” Henderson said. “I needed to gain experience only to be able to supply specific information. Just to get a sense of who they are as individuals.”
Henderson, who stands 5-foot-7 and is incredibly fast with and without the ball, is someone Staley knows she can count on.
“We began recruiting Destanni Henderson when she was a toddler,” Staley said. “She notified us she was coming early in the process and remained committed to us throughout a freshman year that you want to forget… because she didn’t have a very positive experience for whatever reason.”
“She is the ideal teammate. She is the kind of person that provides us with just what we need at any given moment.”
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South Carolina’s Zia Cooke comes up with a beautiful steal and then flies down to the other end for an easy layup.
In South Carolina’s 72-59 victory against Louisville on Friday, Beal, Cooke, and Henderson combined for 33 points and shot 48 percent from the field. The three had shot a collective 29 percent from the field in the NCAA tournament heading into the Final Four. Beal’s suffocating defense also forced Louisville’s Hailey Van Lith to shoot 4-for-11.
“She makes life difficult for everyone. And we adore it “Boston said. “When she’s not on the court, she’ll strike you with some amazing sarcasm.”
On-court, this might manifest itself in the form of opponents barking at Beal because they are upset with her blanket coverage. Beal’s retorts may be a touch fierce as well.
Cooke stated, “Brea is hilarious because she doesn’t attempt to be funny.” “Brea is a really calm, serene, and laid-back individual. It’s sort of amusing if you pull her out of who she is and force her to give you that back.”
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Destanni Henderson makes another huge shot for South Carolina, this time from the corner of the court.
Cooke is the one who is attempting to be amusing.
“Zia is a stand-up comedian,” Boston said. “Around her, the atmosphere is usually cheerful. We can count on her to make a shot, be methodical, and attack the hoop on the court.”
South Carolina’s starting guard trio combined for 38 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, and eight steals in a 73-57 Gamecocks win against UConn in the Bahamas in November.
Paige Bueckers, Christyn Williams, and Evina Westbrook combined for 43 points, seven rebounds, 13 assists, and two steals for the Connecticut women’s basketball team. Because the guards essentially played to a draw, Boston’s domination — 22 points, 15 rebounds — was enough to win.
The 6-5 Boston enjoys the guard play that surrounds her.
Boston stated, “Henny adds the enthusiasm.” “She has distinct spurts of pace on the court.” She is in charge of the game and the pace.
“They’re a lethal combo on the floor [with Beal and Cook]. They get along swimmingly and have a good idea of where each other needs to be and what needs to happen.”
The “ncaa women’s basketball tournament schedule” is the official schedule for the women’s NCAA championship game. The 2022 championship will be held at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.
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